Engaging in the Comments

Is there hope for civility?

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

I have hope

Are we getting more civil now? Are we able to have respectful conversations with Trump supporters? Is there hope for less divisive interactions? Maybe? I’m going to say yes. Here’s my reason for hope.

In the year leading up to the 2020 election, I thought that engaging with my Trump-supporting friends on social media was my responsibility. As a retired teacher, I thought I could invoke critical thinking skills, have civil conversations, and yes, maybe change their minds. There was something addicting about it, like an itch you have to scratch. I eventually realized it was futile and a waste of time. I ended the addiction, and after the election, I rarely went into Facebook, which was where most of the aggravation was located.

Opened the Pandora’s box again

I recently got pulled in again. Maybe because my friends who share my liberal views are posting political positions as the presidential election looms. Maybe because I’m thinking I should pay more attention to what they’re saying. Maybe it’s the algorithm — a controversial comment is shown under the post, and your eye gets drawn in.

A friend of my friend starts her post by saying: “I love you dearly but we can’t take another four years of this.” She lumps both the…